It’s the final week of the fall veto session - and the last few days in office for State Representative Adam Brown of Champaign. The three-term House Republican, who did not run for re-election this year, says it’s a "shame" that the state budget hasn’t gotten more attention since lawmakers returned to Springfield two weeks ago.

A major energy package, automatic voter registration ---- and the state budget --- are all on the line … as state lawmakers return to the capitol this week. It’s the second half of the annual veto session.

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has died at age 90, according to Cuban state media, confirms NPR. Castro, who took power in the Cuban revolution in 1959, led his country for nearly 50 years. After undergoing intestinal surgery, Castro had ceded power in July 2006, to his younger brother Raul, who announced his death late Friday on Cuban state television.

Teenagers are texting while behind the wheel, despite the law prohibiting it. And that's not all they're doing. The survey from State Farm Insurancefound 80 percent of teens say they use their smartphones while driving. Along with sending text messages, they're using the phone for other purposes, including playing games.

The University of Illinois says it's suspending immediately all of the recent changes announced ahead of the new federal overtime rules. That includes salary increases and overtime eligibility related to the new changes under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The move comes after a federal judge in Texas blocked nationwide implementation of the new rules.

Three of the public universities hardest hit by the state budget crisis will split $17 million in emergency funding, according to the Chicago Tribune. The paper reports that the Illinois Board of Higher Education voted unanimously Wednesday to send the lifeline funding to Chicago State, Western Illinois and Eastern Illinois universities.